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Updated: Fr Charles Fenech gets three-month suspended jail term for sexually abusing woman
By Helena Grech
Fr Charles Fenech, former leader of the philanthropical Kergyma movement, was found guilty of sexually abusing a vulnerable person, landing him a three-month jail term suspended for one year. Fenech was also charged with detaining a woman against her will and offending a person’s morals in a public sphere. He was acquitted of the last two charges. The woman involved had testified in court, about how separation from her husband had left her very depressed, and that Fenech had become a patriarchal figure in her life. The woman filed her first police report in August 2011. She was working at Dar Tal-Providenza and described how the priest had urged her to perform oral sex on him. Battling depression, she was eventually admitted to Mt Carmel psychiatric hospital to receive treatment. She testified that at a later stage when she was in a better place, celebrations were being hosted at her home and Fenech was among the guests. At one point, the priest asked to speak with her alone and attempted to give her a French kiss, the victim testified. She also testified that she was forced to give oral sex to Fenech in the convent where he resided and in her home on several occasions. The Malta Independent had revealed that Fenech, a 57-year-old Dominican priest known for his organisation of volleyball marathons in aid of Dar Tal-Providenza, was charged with sexual abuse against at least five women. Back in 2014, this newsroom had discovered that the case had been before the Curia Response Team for eight years prior. In spite of the allegations and his case being heard in court and by the Church Response Team, Fr Fenech had continued to lead the Kerygma Movement, an organisation for young people, and the radio station Radju Marija, also presenting a daily programme until 2014 when the stories about his behaviour with a number of women began to surface. "I love you very much"; "u know that I do mistakes but I never do anything 2 hurt you and lose u"; "Even when u r down rem (remember) u r v imp 2 me". These are just a sample of the many SMSs that one of the five victims who alleged sexual abused by Fr Charles Fenech received from him during their 10-year rollercoaster relationship. In the consideration of the court, presided over by Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, it noted the close but erratic behaviour of the victim and the accused, where sometimes she put him on a pedestal and sometimes she "detest[ed]" him. The court stated that Fenech took on a patriarchal figure to the victim, and that the relationship between the pair was inopportune to say the least. Magistrate Micallef Trigona described the testimony of people in which the victim placed her trust as “perplexing”, as they had described many other allegations against the accused, adding that the court will not comment on such matters. Testimony from a psychiatric doctor also confirmed to the court that the victim was suffering from mental illness, having been under his care for 20 odd years. In a statement following the case, the Curia stressed that the Church's Safeguarding Commission has taken note of the Court judgement. "In keeping with the recommendation of the Safeguarding Commission of January 2016, Fr Fenech remains restricted from occupying any pastoral role within the Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo. The public is reminded to contact the Police and the Safeguarding Commission about any concerns related to abuse. The Commission can be contacted on telephone no. 25906315 or by email on info@safeguarding.org.mt."
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